Sealing device for soft metal tubes



July 21, 1931. s, Q LAWRENCE 1,815,319

SEALING DEVICE FOR SOFT METAL TUBES Filed April 18. 1928 Patented July 21, 19.31

,U-NITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE STANLEY O. IJAWRENCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEALING DEVICE FOR SOFT METAL TUBES Application filed a in 1s,

posed to the surroundingair and consequenty it hardens or solidifies and prevents the tube from being squeezed in the usual manner to extrude the material.-

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for sealing or closing tubes which is adapted to be substituted for the regular threaded cap either before or after purchase of the tube and is so readily manipulated into its operative and inoperative positions that the user is not likely to leave the outlet nipple open and permit the material to harden. In general, the device or sealing unit comprises an element which is adapted to be permanently secured to the threaded nipple of the tube and a cap or cover bearing element which is springpressed and is hinged to the fixed or anchorelement.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a sealing deviceof the aforementioned character which is formed wholly from sheet metal and is so constructed that it may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the vari ous advantages and characteristics of the present construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. J

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughoutthe several views: 1

. substantially flat tongue 10 and an attaching 1928. Serial No. 270,818.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tube provlded with a sealing device embodying the invention, the ca -bearing element of the device being shown 1n its closed or operative position i Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, made on a slightly larger scale;

F1 gure 3 1s a section taken on'the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure is a perspective of the cap-bearing element; and

Figure 5 is a perspective of the anchorelement, that is, the element that is adapted to be substituted for the regular cap and be permanently secured in place.

The invention is exemplified in a device for sealing a paste containing tube, such, for example, as the one illustrated in the drawmg which comprises altubular body member a. The latter is closed at its discharge end by means of a tapered or conical wall member 6 having an outlet nipple 0. The body memher is formedof soft pliable metal so that when it is squeezed or pressed together the material therein which may be tooth-paste,

salve, shaving cream or any other material of like character, will be extruded through the discharge duct (1 in the usual manner. The nipple 0 is ordinarily sealed by a knurled cap (not shown) which is internally threaded, as well understood in the art, and is connected to an external screw-thread on the nipple.

The sealing device which forms the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to besubstituted for the regular tube-cap and o erates to facilitate sealing and unsealing o the tube. This device consists of an element 6 which is more or less an anchor m'ember, and an element 7 which is pivotally connected to the so-called anchor-element and includes a cylindrical cap 8. The latter is adapted to fit over the outer end of the'nipple c and has secured to the inner part thereof a disk 9 of cork or rubber to form a seal for the contents of the tube. Both elements are made from sheet-metal strips and are preferably stamped or punched mto'their proper fshapel- The anchor element 6 comprises a ring 11 is connecti Is to the nipple c by means .of the interengaging screw-threads and is adapted to be rotated to jam the skirt 13 into locking engagement with the adjacent or contiguous part of the tube in order to prevent undesired removal of the device from its operative osition. The ton ue 10 is con nected to t e marginal art 0? the skirt and projects laterall there rom so that itis positioned outwardly of the ring 11. The outer or distal end of the tongue is shaped'to form a pair of pivot ears 14. These ears project upwardly from the side edges of the tongue which are substantially parallel.

The cap bearing element] comprises a fiat tongue 15 which overlies the tongue 10 and is connected to the lower end of the cap 8. The sides of this tongue 15 are provided with downwardly extending pivot ears 16 which lap the ears 14 and are connected thereto by a pivot pin 17 so that. the element 7 may be swung to and from the nipple cto bring the cap 8 into and out of its operative or sealing position. This in is arranged at the extreme outer end of t e two elements and substantially in the plane of the outer end ofthe nipple so that t e cap may be swung with ease and will seat properly. The pin 17 ex tends through holes 18 and 19 which are formed in t e ears 14 and 16 respectively. When the tube is to be used, the element 7 will be swung upwardly. In this position the cap 8 will be entirely free from the nipple c and the tubemay be squeezed to extrude or force the material through the outlet duct d. When it is desired to seal the tube after use the element will be swung downwardly until the ca is seated on the outer end of the nipple. n this position the disk 9 forms a seal which prevents the ma- I terial from being exposed to the surrounding air. To maintain the cap in its closed position under suflicient pressure to efiect a hermetical seal'between the disk and nipple, a spring strip 20 is provided.- This strip is sheared from the central portion of the tongue 10 and the outer end thereof is bent upwardly as at .21, so as to be in a position to cooperate with a de ending lug 22 which is formed by bending pwnwardly the outer end of the tongue 15. 'This lug is dis osed outwardly of the pivotin and exten s between the two ears 16. en the cap hear ing element 7 is in its operative EOSltlOll the lower end of this lug engages t e rear end of the spring strip. In this manner the force of the spring strip is applied to press the cap 8 into sealing relation with the nipple positions v a nlpple understood that the inven upwardly into-its inoperative position, the

lug 22 is shifted so that the outer face bears against the flat outer end of the strip 20, with the result that'theforce of said strip is applied to-hold the cap-element open. The lug 22'and stri 20 exempliefiy spring means formed integrail with the ements 6 and 7 respectively for To lock the elements-together so that they will notbeaccidentally displaced when in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,

', the inner'ends of the cars 16' are struck inwardly to form studs 23 which are positioned to fitinto corresponding sockets'24'formed in the inner ends of-the ears 14. These stud and socket connections are readily engaged .and disengaged due to the resiliency of the' ears and do not lessen in. a material way the fasedwith which 'the device may be manipuate In use the device is applied to a tubeafter the regular cap has been'removed, by rotating the ring 11 into interlockin engagement with the threaded nipple c. s previously pointed out, when it is desired to use the contents of the tube it is only necessary to swing the cap-bearing element 7 upwardly. .As soon as the In 22 passes out of dead center ments, the manufacturing may be done at a reasonable cost.

It is to be understood that the device may be applied by a urchaser to any tube having rovi ed with a standard threa or it ma lieu of t e knurled cap. In the latter case it becomes a part of the tube. It is also to be 'onis not to be olding the cap 8 in its two :relation with t e strip 2.1, during the initial e applied by the manufacturer in limited or restricted to the specific details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim, without dealso of sheet metal and provided at one end I with a depending pivot ear adapted to lap the pivot ear of the first mentioned element and atits other end with a cap for closing the open end of the nipple, a ivot pin extending through the ears, and a stud and socket connection between said ears for locking the two elements together when the second element is positioned so that the cap is adjacent the securing means of the first mentioned member and against the nipple. I Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day' of April, 1928.

STANLEY O. LAWRENCE. 

